Millener backs separate Rally1 and Rally2 classifications

M-Sport team principal Richard Millener has supported Oliver Solberg's call for separate classifications for Rally1 and Rally2 cars in the World Rally Championship next year. Solberg, a Toyota driver, told DirtFish that he and his Rally1 colleagues were concerned about the speed of Rally2 cars running in preferential road positions on loose-surface rounds of the championship.

Millener said it was important to give the public clarity about which cars are competing. He argued that separate classifications would keep the sport simple to follow, comparing it with the World Endurance Championship, where the focus remains on the Hypercar class. He also said the gap between Rally1 and Rally2 would widen naturally as new cars arrive, though he acknowledged that Rally2 cars could have good road positions on some rallies, creating potential for confusion.

M-Sport's 2027-specification Ford Fiesta will run in Rally1 under the WRC Kit Car regulations, and the team has just completed its initial testing of the new car.